Firearm shoulder support and strap attachment

ABSTRACT

An attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel, generally including a rigid support member secured to the stock and projecting rearwardly from the upper end of the stock, and a stray secured at one end thereof to the support member, and being attachable at the other end thereof to the underside of the stock.

[ 51 3,665,632 [451 May 36,1972

3 ww avl PC 1 6 9 H 2 [54] FIREARM SHOULDER SUPPORT AND STRAP ATTACHMENT 5/1969 Gilbert..................

[72] Inventor: Wade L. Ford, 30 W. 29th St., San Angelo' 7690] Primary ExaminerBenjamin A. Borchelt Nov. 25, 1969 Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan [22] Filed:

Attorney-Mason, Fenwick & Lawrence Appl. No.:

Baku/3311?; An attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel, Xi 71 224 A generally including a rigid support member secured to the stock and projecting rearwardly from the upper end of the stock, and a stray secured at one end thereof to the support member, and being attachable at the other end thereof to the underside of the stock.

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References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,088,314 Wilcke............,..........................42/85 9C1aims,4Drawing Figures FIREARM SHOULDER SUPPORT AND STRAP ATTACHMENT This invention relates to an attachment for a firearm and more particularly to an attachment adapted to easily position and support a firearm having a stock and a barrel, either on the shoulder or forearm of a user.

In the use of firearms such as rifles and shotguns, the butt end of the stock conventionally is positioned against the front portion of the shoulder of the user, so that the user may aim the firearm by aligning the barrel of the firearm with a target. Usually, the butt end of the stock is adjusted when the firearm has been raised to a final position on the shoulder which has been found to be most suitable to the user. Such adjustment in positioning each time the firearm is raised, has been found to be undesirable, in that the shooting accuracy of the user may be impaired if the firearm is not positioned in the most suitable position for the user, or in that the loss of time required to properly position the firearm for aiming, may result in the loss of a target, particularly in circumstances such as in game hunting where the target may be moving or stationary only for a short period of time. It thus has been found desirable to provide a means for consistently and rapidly positioning a firearm in the most suitable position against the shoulder of a user, each time the firearm is raised to be aimed and fired, thereby facilitating the rapid and accurate aiming and firing of the firearm.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel attachment for a firearm.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel attachment for a firearm ofthe type having a stock and barrel.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel attachment for a firearm having a stock and barrel, which is adapted to position the butt end of the stock against the shoulder ofthe user.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel, which is adapted to position the firearm consistently in a selected, most suitable position against the shoulder of the user, thereby facilitating the rapid and accurate aiming of the firearm.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel attachment for a firearm which is adapted to comfortably support the stock end ofthe firearm on the forearm ofthe user.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel, which facilitates the carrying of the firearm in a position where it may be rapidly moved to a firing position.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel, wherein the stock end of the firearm may be positioned consistently at the same position on the shoulder of the user to permit the user to align the barrel of the firearm with a target with minimum or no adjustment in the positioning of the stock end of the firearm.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel attachment for positioning a firearm having a stock and a barrel, which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and easy to assemble.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent to those persons having skill in the art to which the invention pertains, from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention, illustrating the components thereof in exploded relation;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, mounted on a rifle; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the embodiment of the invention secured to the rifle by means of an alternate method.

Briefly described, the present invention relates to a firearm having a stock and a barrel, generally including a rigid support member secured to the stock and projecting rearwardly from the upper rear end of the stock, and a carrying strap secured at one end thereof to the support member, and attachable at the other end thereof to the underside of the stock.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there is included a flat mounting plate secured to the end of the stock, having a rearwardly projecting flange disposed at the upper end thereof on which the support member is secured, and a pad mounted on the mounting plate whereby the mounting plate is interposed between the pad and the stock. In addition, the support member is capable of being formed and thus shaped to conform to the shoulder of the user, the carrying strap is provided with an elongated pocket which receives the free end of the support member therein, the free end of the strap is detachably secured to the underside of the stock adjacent the rear end thereof or at a selected point forwardly thereof, and the effective length of the strap is adjustable.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated an embodiment of the invention. The embodiment is adapted to be attached to a firearm 10 having a stock 11, a barrel l2, and a firing mechanism 13. Specifically, the embodiment includes a mounting plate 14, a rigid support member 15, a strap 16, and a recoil pad 17. The mounting member 14 includes a plate portion 18 mounted on the butt end 19 of the stock 11, a rearwardly projecting upper flange 20, and a rearwardly projecting lower flange 21. The plate portion 18 of the mounting member has an outside configuration similar to the configuration of the butt end 19 of the stock, and a pair of aligned slots 22 and 23 which are adapted to register with a pair of openings 24 and 25 in the butt end of the stock 1 1.

The support member 15 consists of a base portion 26 which is adapted to be seated on the upper flange 20 of the mounting member, and an elongated flat portion 27 which is adapted to project rearwardly when the base portion 26 is seated on the upper flange 20. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the support member 15 and the upper flange 20 are provided with threaded openings 28 and 29 which are adapted to register when the base portion 26 of the support member is mounted on the upper flange 20, and receive a bolt 30 for rigidly securing the support member 15 on the upper end ofthe mounting member 14.

The recoil pad 17 also has the same outside configuration as the butt end 19 of the stock 11, and is adapted to be mounted on the plate portion 18 of the mounting member. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the recoil pad 17, the mounting member 14, and the stock 11 are secured together with the mounting member 14 interposed between recoil pad 17 and the butt end 19 of the stock, by means of a pair of screws 31 and 32 which are inserted through a pair of openings 33 and 34 in the recoil pad and the aligned slots 22 and 23 in the mounting member, into the openings 24 and 25 in the butt end of the stock.

The strap 16 is connected at its opposite ends to the support member 15 and the underside of the stock 11. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the end portion 35 is provided with an additional ply 36 which is stitched thereto along lines 37, 38 and 39 to form an elongated pocket 40, as best illustrated in FIG. 2, which receives the elongated portion 27 of the support member 15. The end portion 35 of the strap and the additional ply 36 are provided with aligned openings 41 and 42 which are adapted to register with an opening 43 in the elongated portion 27 of the support member when the elongated portion is received within the pocket 40, and to receive a fastening rivet 43a for securing the elongated portion 27 of the rigid member within the pocket 40 of the strap. The opposite end 44 of the strap is passed through an adjusting buckle 45 and an attaching clip 46, and secured to the attaching buckle 45, so that the buckle 45 can be moved along the length of the strap to adjust its efiective length. The attaching clip 46 is of the conventional snap-on type and is adapted to be secured to the lower flange 21 of the mounting member 14 which is provided with an opening 47, an attaching ring 48 secured to the underside of the stock adjacent the butt end 19, or an attaching ring 49 which is secured to the underside of the stock adjacent the forward end thereof.

The support member is formed from a rigid material which can be deformed by bending to conform to the shoulder of the user. Any suitable material can be used for the support member. It has been found that an aluminum alloy is suitable material to be used for forming the support member. The strap 16 also can be formed from any flexible and durable material such as leather or plastic. Although any type offastener can be used to secure the free end of the strap to the underside of the stock, it is preferred that a snap-on type of fastener as illustrated in the drawing, be used which may be quickly attached and detached.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that when the recoil pad 17 is positioned against the chest of the user, the support member 15 will rest on the shoulder of the user to position the firearm for aiming at a target. The relative positions of the recoil pad 17 and the support member 15 function to permit the firearm to be positioned at the same location on the shoulder of the user on each occasion when the firearm is being aimed. In addition, since a portion of the weight of the firearm is transmitted to the shoulder of the user by the support member 15, the user is able to hold the firearm more steadily during aiming. In addition, the support member 15 may be rested on the upper portion of the forearm of the user, to hold the firearm comfortably at a lower position about waist-high.

In the use of the attachment as described, the effective length of the strap can be adjusted by the adjusting buckle 45, and the fastener 46 may be attached to the lower flange 21, the attaching ring 48, or the attaching ring 49 for carrying the firearm on the shoulder of the user. Whenever it is desired to aim the rifle, the user need only swing the forward end of the rifle upwardly to position the recoil pad 17 on the front portion of the shoulder, and to rest the support member 15 on the upper portion of the shoulder. In doing so, the user is assured that the firearm will be positioned for aiming and firing in the same position on each occasion. After the rifle has been positioned as described, a portion of the weight ofthe rifle is transmitted to the body of the user, so that the user may more easily hold the rifle steady as it is aimed and fired at its target.

It further will be seen that the aforementioned attachment can be removed from the firearm simply by removing the screws 31 and 32, removing the mounting member 14, and then remounting the recoil pad 17 on the butt end 19 of the stock.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof, as limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel comprising a rigid support member secured to said stock, having a free end thereof projecting rearwardly from the upper rear end of said stock and a strap having an elongated pocket disposed at one end thereof receiving the free end of said support member, the free end of said support member being secured within said elongated pocket, and another end of said strap being attachable to the underside of said stock.

2. An attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel according to claim 1, wherein said support member is curved slightly downwardly whereby it would be adapted to conform to the curvature of the shoulder of the user thereof.

3. An attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel according to claim 1, wherein the end of said strap attachable to the underside of said stock is selectively attachable to the underside of said stock adjacent the rear end thereof and at a predetermined point forwardly thereof.

4. An attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel according to claim 1, wherein the effective length of said strap is adjustable.

5. An attachment for a firearm having a stock and barrel according to claim 1, wherein said support member is capable of being deformed and thus shaped to conform to the shoulder of a user.

6. An attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel according to claim 1, including a mounting plate secured to the end of said stock, having a rearwardly projecting flange disposed at the upper end thereof on which said support member is secured.

7. An attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel according to claim 6, including a pad mounted on said mounting plate whereby said mounting plate is interposed between said pad and said stock.

8. An attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel according to claim 6, wherein the end of said strap attachable to the underside of said stock is selectively attachable to the underside of said stock adjacent the rear end thereof and at a predetermined point forwardly thereof.

9. An attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel according to claim 1, including a flat mounting plate secured to the end of said stock, having a rearwardly projecting flange disposed at the upper end thereof on which said support member is secured, and a pad mounted on said mounting plate whereby said mounting plate is interposed between said pad and said stock, and wherein said support member is capable of being deformed and thus shaped to conform to the shoulder of a user, the end of said strap attachable to the underside of said stock is selectively attachable to the underside of said stock adjacent the rear end thereof and at a predetermined point forwardly thereof, and the effective length of said strap is adjustable. 

1. An attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel comprising a rigid support member secured to said stock, having a free end thereof projecting rearwardly from the upper rear end of said stock and a strap having an elongated pocket disposed at one end thereof receiving the free end of said support member, the free end of said support member being secured within said elongated pocket, and another end of said strap being attachable to the underside of said stock.
 2. An attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel according to claim 1, wherein said support member is curved slightly downwardly whereby it would be adapted to conform to the curvature of the shoulder of the user thereof.
 3. An attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel according to claim 1, wherein the end of said strap attachable to the underside of said stock is selectively attachable to the underside of said stock adjacent the rear end thereof and at a predetermined point forwardly thereof.
 4. An attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel according to claim 1, wherein the effective length of said strap is adjustable.
 5. An attachment for a firearm having a stock and barrel according to claim 1, wherein said support member is capable of being deformed and thus shaped to conform to the shoulder of a user.
 6. An attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel according to claim 1, including a mounting plate secured to the end of said stock, having a rearwardly projecting flange disposed at the upper end thereof on which said support member is secured.
 7. An attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel according to claim 6, including a pad mounted on said mounting plate whereby said mounting plate is interposed between said pad and said stock.
 8. An attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel according to claim 6, wherein the end of said strap attachable to the underside of said stock is selectively attachable to the underside of said stock adjacent the rear end thereof and at a predetermined point forwardly thereof.
 9. An attachment for a firearm having a stock and a barrel according to claim 1, including a flat mounting plate secured to the end of said stock, having a rearwardly projecting flange disposed at the upper end thereof on which said support member is secured, and a pad mounted on said mounting plate whereby said mounting plate is interposed between said pad and said stock, and wherein said support member is capable of being deformed and thus shaped to conform to the shoulder of a user, the end of said strap attachable to the underside of said stock is selectively attachable to the underside of said stock adjacent the rear end thereof and at a predetermined point forwardly thereof, and the effective length of said strap is adjustable. 